Thomas Beecham

Sir Thomas Beecham Bt ( born April 29, 1879 in St Helens, Lancashire at that time; † March 8, 1961 in London) was a British conductor, who founded several British symphony orchestra. These foundations include the New Symphony Orchestra (1906 ), the London Philharmonic Orchestra (1932) and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (1947).

Beecham was also a promoter of numerous composers of his time. He sat down significantly for a performance of works by Frederick Delius, Ethel Smyth and Jean Sibelius. He played the first in England Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg by Richard Wagner and the opera Elektra and Salome by Richard Strauss and contributed significantly to the enrichment of the musical life of the British capital.

Life

Thomas Beecham was brought up as a son of a rich pharmacists in Oxford, in the musical field, he was self-taught. Because of his financial circumstances, he could allow himself to engage in a broad musical style. Already in the period from 1902 to 1904, he led a small opera ensemble; also the acquisition of artistic and economic management of the Covent Garden it was only possible thanks to the financial support of his family. Just as economically brave he founded during the First World War, the Beecham Opera Company, which he had to give up as its own ensemble in 1920 again, as spending exceeded income by far.

To his form of conducting it belonged to attach particular audience- small pieces at the end of a concert as an encore. Beecham himself described this work as a selection like " lollipops " (sweets ).

To Beecham, who had a ready wit, numerous anecdotes, a selection of which were published by his former private secretary in book form tendrils ( " Beecham Stories" ). For example, the following two bon mots Beecham be attributed to:

"There are two golden rules for at orchestra: start together and finish together. The public does not give a damn what goes on in between. "

" There are two golden rules for an orchestra: start together and finish together. The audience does not care what happens in between. "

"The English june not like music, But They absolutely love the noise it makes. "

"The English like music maybe not, but apparently they like the noise it is making. "

Writings

  • A Mingled Chime. Leaves from in Autobiography. Hutchinson, London et al 1944.
  • Frederick Delius. Hutchinson, London, 1959 ( Reprint. Vienna House, New York, NY 1973, ISBN 0-8443-0082-9 ).
  • John Fletcher ( The Romanes Lecture =. 1956, ISSN 0267-9760 ). Clarendon Press, Oxford: Oxford University Press 1956

Literature (selection )

  • John Lucas: Thomas Beecham. An obsession with music. Boydell Press, Woodbridge, inter alia, 2011, ISBN 978-1-84383-402-1
  • Alan Jefferson: Sir Thomas Beecham. A Centenary Tribute. Macdonald and Jane 's, London 1979, ISBN 0-354-04205- X.
  • Humphrey Procter - Gregg Beecham Remembered. Duckworth, London 1976, ISBN 0-7156-1117-8.
  • Charles Reid: Thomas Beecham. An Independent Biography. Victor Gollancz, London 1961.
Baronet Salome (opera) Integrated Authority File
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